Parent
Night on Social Media Fitness: March 22nd, 6:30 p.m.

All Middle and High School parents are highly encouraged to attend this
parent evening with Chris Vollum on Social Media Fitness. Through relatable
and current exercises and stories, expert Chris Vollum demonstrates practical
skills to post online content that reflects value, respect and relevance while
minimizing the risk of bullying, cyber-bullying and loss of reputation on
Thursday, March 22nd at 6:30 pm. in the High School auditorium.
[
MORE ]

Half
day for elementary parent-teacher conferences

All three elementary schools and the fifth grade at the Middle School will
conduct an afternoon of parent/teacher conferences on Friday, March 9th. All K-5 students will be dismissed at 11:30am on
Friday, March 9th.

MS
students "suit up" during Global Foundries Ambassadors' visit

Thanks to the Global Foundries Ambassadors who visited on Feb 6th,
seventh-graders at the Middle School got to try on these “bunny suits” that
microchip manufacturers wear in the clean rooms at Fab 8 in Malta!
[
MORE ]

“Expenditure growth and revenue stagnation” set the landscape for initial
2018-2019 budget development, Assistant Superintendent for Business Bobby
Yusko told the Board of Education on Feb 12th, as he outlined a preliminary
budget scenario that would create a $2 million gap between revenues and
expenditures in 2018-2019. Early scenarios do not include any reductions in
program or services, do not account for application of fund balance, and
utilize refined state aid estimates based on the Governor's Executive Budget
proposal. [
MORE ]

2018
Founders' Day Awards: Stacie DiMezza and Yvonne Anderson

The Parent Teacher Student Associations at each school are proud to present
the 2018 winners of the Founders' Day Awards! These awards celebrate committed
parent volunteers and/or staff members from each school. Each honoree has been
selected to recognize his or her service and dedication to go above and beyond
for the students of Glens Falls City Schools. Read about Thursday's honorees from
the Middle School, parent volunteer Stacie DiMezza and teacher Yvonne Anderson
[
HERE ]

Glens
Falls' graduation rate jumps to 87 percent in latest NYSED data

The New York State Education Department has released data for 2017 that
shows Glens Falls’ graduation rate improving to 87 percent—up from 79
percent in 2016. “We are very proud of the gains our students have made over
the last few years, especially the increase in our graduation rate,” said
Superintendent Paul Jenkins. “We have steadily increased over time, but last
year was our largest jump in our graduation rate.
[
MORE ]

Glens
Falls residents vote “Yes” on land purchase plan

Glens Falls City School District residents approved a plan to purchase
property adjacent to the schools’ bus garage today by a margin of 314 "yes"
votes to 127 “no” votes – a 71.2 percent approval rate. The proposition allows
the Board of Education to buy the land and structures at 35 Glenwood Avenue,
which is the parcel immediately north of the bus garage facility at 31
Glenwood. The district will acquire the land at its appraised value of
$240,000, plus reasonable and customary closing costs and expenses.
[
MORE ]

8th
Graders: 2017-18
Course Guide now available

Attention eighth graders: it's time to choose your courses for next school year! Have a
look at the 2017-18 Course Description Guide to learn more about the GFHS
offerings for next year. A PDF download is available
[
HERE ].

RPI
Engineering Ambassadors lead science experiments with GFMS students

“Kids first, that’s what it all boils down to,” said Tom Philips, executive
director of the New York State Middle School Association (NYSMSA). “He is all
about ‘Is this good for the kids? Why are we doing this and how is this good
for the kids?’” Philips said. “And the thing people do not know about him is
how willing he is willing to share his best practices with other schools.”
[ MORE ]

Celebrating
Education Support Professionals during American Education Week, November
13-17, 2017

Glens Falls City School District celebrates national American Education
Week by highlighting our “school superheroes” whose various careers touch the
lives of our students and pave the way for success. Education Support
Professionals—our teacher aides, teaching assistants, secretaries, custodians,
and many other team members—play a crucial role in every school building,
every day. Thursday's honoree is "Mr. P," Joe Pezzulo, Hall Monitor at the
Middle School! [ MORE ]

Student-musicians
perform in All-County band ensembles

Seventeen of Glens Falls’ student-musicians had the honor of performing in the SWCMEA
All-County Band Festival. Middle School students selected include Avi Berg,
Rosalie Carlsen, Aidan Harrington, Tristan Henry, Carson Rath, Olivia Teta,
and Aiden Wiggins. [ MORE ]

District-wide
"Pink-Out" raises awareness of breast cancer

The "Power of Pink" was on display Thursday, October
19th
at all Glens
Falls City Schools. Students and staff members wore pink and donated coins to
the "Pennies for Pink" effort to honor
breast cancer survivors, fighters, and families ... and support research,
awareness, and hope.
[
PHOTO GALLERY ]

High
and Middle Schools conduct lockdown drill with help from law
enforcement

Officers and K-9 teams from multiple law enforcement agencies were on site
at the High School/Middle School campus on Wednesday, Oct. 18th, as the
buildings conducted a lockdown drill—in which students and staff practice the
emergency response procedures for an internal threat.
[ MORE ]

Join
an Odyssey of the Mind team! (Or Coach!)

Would your kids like to create an original performance that includes a
ride-on vehicle that takes part in a “triathlon?” How about telling a story
(with no words!) about a once-famous, but now forgotten, emoji? These
endeavors (and more) are challenges in this year's Odyssey of the Mind
competition. Teams are forming now - email Asst. Supt. for Curriculum &
Instruction, Trent Clay for more details [
HERE ].

Got
questions? We've got answers!

With the new school year underway, we'd
like to share some answers to questions frequently asked at the Middle School.
Have a look [ HERE ] for tips
and reminders to get the school year off to a great start! The GFMS agenda and
code of conduct can be viewed [ HERE ].

Welcome
back packets mailed Aug. 24

Welcome back for another great year at Glens Falls Middle School! The first
day of school is Wednesday, September 6th, and the bell rings at 8:28 a.m. Look for your
family’s welcome packet arriving in your mailbox within the next few days. It
contains the PRINTED DISTRICT
CALENDAR, the Middle School’s
MOBILE DEVICE USAGE POLICY,
and Mr. Reed’s WELCOME LETTER,
among other important information. See you soon!

2017-18
School district calendars

The detailed school year calendar is no longer mailed to every postal
address in the City. A copy is included in each family packet for current
students, and any Glens Falls City School District resident may request a
calendar by calling the district office at 792-1481. You can download it
[ HERE ] as a PDF. A
one-page printable version of the calendar that includes school breaks,
holidays, and Regents exam days can be downloaded
[ HERE ].

Get
involved in the Middle School PTSA!

By volunteering with the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association), you'll
be helping to support our students in meaningful ways. The PTSA works to
maintain a supportive and encouraging community for the entire school—which,
in turn, creates the most educational environment possible for all children.
You can share ideas, concerns, and experiences to make the school year better
for everyone. Visit the GFMS PTSA website for
[ MORE ].

Congratulations,
GFMS student-musicians!

Wrapping up another busy year in the music department, approximately 96
Glens Falls Middle School students were recently recognized for performing at
a NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festival and/or for being selected into a Saratoga
Warren Music Educator’s Association’s All-County Ensemble. All of these
students practiced diligently at home and put in several hours after or before
school to prepare. Congratulations to our middle school musicians!

New
York State Master Teachers named at GFMS

Not one, but two math and science teachers from Glens Falls Middle School
have been inducted into the elite New York State Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP).
Science teacher Jason Brechko and math teacher Yvonne Anderson are members of
the newest cohort of educators statewide to be named Master Teachers.
[ MORE ]

Flu
Information for 2017-18 school year

Glens Falls school nurses are encouraging families to read the Flu Guide
For Parents
[ AVAILABLE HERE ]. Keep your
children safe; make sure they are vaccinated every fall or winter. For more
information from the NYS Department of Health, please click
[ HERE ].

Reminder:
Adults must accompany MS students

Middle School student spectators must be accompanied by a parent or other
adult at all games and athletic contests.

Educator
scores available to parents and guardians

Under education law, parents and guardians of students may request the
final quality rating and composite effectiveness score for each teacher and
the principal of the school to which their child is assigned for the current
school year. Read the process to request APPR ratings and scores
[ HERE ]